noun
Uncommon
constable
KUHNS-tuh-buhl
Constable (noun) means a police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces. Example: “The constable took a statement from the witness.”
noun
1
A police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces.
"The constable took a statement from the witness."
"She joined the force as a constable straight out of training."
"A young constable directed traffic around the accident until help arrived."
2
A senior officer or castle warden in a medieval royal or noble household.
"The constable of the castle oversaw its defence."
"The king appointed a trusted constable to command the fortress while he was away."
"In the old chronicle, the constable ruled the castle on behalf of the lord."
3
An elected local official responsible for keeping order or serving legal documents, especially at parish or municipal level.
"The town constable served the eviction notice."
"The parish elected a new constable to keep order at the village fair."
"Long ago, the village constable would deliver court summonses to residents by hand."
How to use constable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA police officer, especially a junior one, or (historically) an official in charge of a castle or local order.
Common pairings
police constable
chief constable
special constable
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Word forms
- Plural
- constables
- Third person singular
- constables
- Past tense
- constabled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ took a statement from the witness.
Etymology
From Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabuli, literally "officer of the stables" — a title that gradually rose from stable-master to senior military and civic office.
Related words
Rhymes for constable
See all rhymes for constable →Frequently asked questions
What does “constable” mean?
The word “constable” means a police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces. In plain terms, a police officer, especially a junior one, or (historically) an official in charge of a castle or local order.
How do you pronounce “constable”?
“Constable” is pronounced KUHNS-tuh-buhl (/ˈkɑnstəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “constable” in a sentence?
Here is “constable” used in a sentence: “The constable took a statement from the witness.”
What is another word for “constable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “constable” include police officer.
What part of speech is “constable”?
“Constable” is a noun.
Where does the word “constable” come from?
The word “constable” comes from Latin. From Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabuli, literally "officer of the stables" — a title that gradually rose from stable-master to senior military and civic office.
Is “constable” a common word?
“Constable” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “constable” have?
“Constable” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces.
What is the difference between constable and police officer?
Constable is specifically the term for a police officer of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces, such as the United Kingdom, while police officer is a general term used across ranks and countries. Not every police officer is called a constable, but a constable is always a type of police officer.
Does constable always refer to a modern police rank?
No, constable has multiple senses: alongside its modern meaning of a junior police officer, it historically referred to a senior officer or castle warden in a medieval royal or noble household, and it can also mean an elected local official responsible for keeping order or serving legal documents at parish or municipal level. The specific meaning depends on the historical or regional context.
Is constable used in American English?
Constable is used in some parts of the United States, particularly at the local or municipal level for an elected official who serves legal documents or keeps order, but it is far more common in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries as the standard term for a junior police rank.
